Radiator-casing.



W. M. FULTON.

RADIATOR CASING.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 20. m4.

1,176,536. Patented Mm. 21, 1916.

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W. M. FULTON.

RADIATOR CASING.

APPUCATION FILED APILZO. m4.

Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

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W. M. FULTON.

RADIATOR CASING.

APPLICATION HLED APR. 20, I914 Patented Mar. 21. 1916.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WESTON M. FULTON, OF KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR TO THE FULTON COMPANY, OF KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

RADIATOR-CASING. j

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Wns'rox M. FULTON, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Knoxville. Tennessee, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Radiator-Casings, which invention is fully set forth in the following specification.

This in ention relates to radiator jackets or casings, and more particularly to jackets or casing-s of this class having heat lagged walls and which are provided with automatically controlled dampers.

Radiator casings of the kind above referred to, as heretofore made. lack adapt ability to fit radiators having the same sized sections but differing in the number of secti ns. Th s has been a serious limitation to their use. The cost of fitting casings to such radia ors often prohibits their installation and. when a casing is selected large enough to fit the l -nqcst radiator in a building, its

use on smaller sizes of radiators presents an unsightly a 'ipearan e and occupies space in the rorm needed for other purposes.

Mr invention overcomes the above objections hv orcvidin a radiator casing adapted to ie assembled hv addition of unit sections to fit an length of radiator.

The sections may he made any size or con figuration to fit any form of radiator. Each #:(Ctlflll or unit preferably is made to conform t that of the radiator section to be housed and the units may be. and preferably are. made in standard sizes corresponding to the standard sized radiator sections now on the market. Jackets of different lengths or size-i ma thu be assembled from a stock of slandardiYed units to fit any radiator and, if d sired. the units in their knocked down form may be shipped to the place of use and there assembled. The casing sections are preferably made of sheet metal. such as sheet iron or zinc. the walls of which are double uith an air space between them adapted to retard the transfer of heat across the casing wall. Each section is provided with means. such as interlocking seams, for readily securing it to its neighb r. To give a certain degree of longitudinal adjustability to the casing to compensate for differences in thickness of radiator sections, I provide connections between the sections and parts carried therebv which permit of slight play between the sections. For this purpose I preferably use lapped joint scams and tie the sections together by a tie rod provided with adjusting nuts at their ends.

With a view of utilizing the radiant heat given out by the radiator inclosed in the casing, I preferably coat the inside of the casing walls facing the radiator with a good heat-absorbing material. Of the several materials known topcssess this quality, I prefer to use lamp-black because of its cheapness and efficiency, though I do not care to be limited to lamp-black, but may use any suitable material for this purpose.

I also provide the casing with a sectional hood preferably opening toward one side of the radiator casing and adapted to be built up by addition. of units corresponding to the units of the casing and to fit the top of the casing and house the damper-operating means. The hood sections are preferably made with a single wall instead of with double walls. since they are not called upon to perform all the functions of the casing walls.

The unit principle of construction is also applied to the arrangement of the dampers which I generally locate at the top of the casing. Each casing section which includes the two opposite walls between which is located one or more radia or sections is pro- \"ided with its individual "damper. This damper is arranged to make overlapping joints with the dampers of the adjoining" sections to enable proper closure of the opening. thus giving play to the joints under contraction and expansion of the Sections due to variations of temperature.

The dampers are connected through an operating rod and may be manipulated by hand or by automatic means, such as by a thermostat housed in a casing, so as to secure a iuorccomplete heat insulation of the thcrmostat from the radiator as will he later explained.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawings which show by way of example one mechanical expression of the invention, but such drawings are. designed merely as illustrations to assist the description and not as defining the limits of the invention.

In the drawings :--Figure 1 is'an elevas tionalview, partly in broken section and with certain parts removed, showing a sectional radiator casing embodying my, im-

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provernent s; Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing a portion of the double wall of the cusing; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the casing with the hood removed and parts broken away exposing to view the radiator sections and the damper construction; Fig. 4 is a broken sectional view of the wall taken on line -:i-4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the casing hood and the housing for the thermostat; Figs. (3 and 7 are detail views of the damper construction; Figs. 8 and 9 are detail views showing the manner of connecting the hood sections; Figs. 10 andv 11 are broken detail views of the closures for the top and bottom of the double wall of a section; Fig. 12 is a detail elevational view of a damper with its adjustable operating means; and Fig. 13 is a detail perspective view of the adjustableclamping means.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the body portion ol the radiator casing comprising a plurality of built-up chambered sections 2. 2, 3, 3', -l, 4- (Fig. 3), constituting the side walls. and sections 5 and (i constituting the end walls. The chambered walls are preferably made of sheet metal. Each section is formed in two pieces stamped in suitable shape to form, when assembled,

a hollow chamber ha ing, an outer wall 7 and an inner wall 8 (Fig. 2). The vertical meeting edges of the sheets are curled or otherwise shaped so as to form interlocking joint members 9. 10 which permit the sections to be united bv slipping the interlocking edges one within the other. To strengthen the meeting edges. rivets mav be used. provided they are so located that the heads of the ri ets do not interfere with the sliding action in 10min: the sections. The top of each chamber section is provided with a closure 11. Fig. 10. and consists of a strip oF sheet metal which is cut to the shane of the top opening of the cham er tobe iitted and is slightly larger than the opening to ena le the edges of the closure or cap to be crimpcd or otherwise secured to the corre-" sponding edges of the walls. The bottom of the chamber is also pro ided with a closure, 12 which may be in all respects like that desc ibed abo e. To the bottom closure 1 preferablv s cure or form thereon a tab 13 which extends downwardlv and has an opening to receive a tie rod 14. as indicated in Fig. :2. This tie rod adds rigidity to the easin wall and ena les a certain amount of adi 'stment of the length of the casing.

The unit sections may takefon various.

forms or shapes. but I prefer to give them the general outline shown. wherein each pair of oppositclv disposed unit sections generallv conforms to and incloses a section of the radiator. The several units. when assembled. constitute a wall havinga pluralitv of dead air spaces, or the several spaces may communicate with each other niers by curled slip joints, as explained above. For the purpose of making connec tion between a riser of the supply pipe, as in Fig. 1, and the radiator within the easing, an opening may be made in the wall 5 and anipple 16 inserted to receive the connection. T he opposite end wall is similar in constructimi to the wall 5, except that, in the event a thermosensitive device is used such as shown and described in my U. S. Patent No. 998,767, a draft flue 17 is introduced through the wall (3 andcommunicates with a housing 18, preferably supported by a bracket 19 on the wall 6. The housing wall on the side next the radiator casing has a chambered wall 20 which is set away f1'on1 wall 6 to leave an air space between the two, the purpose of which is to reduce interchange of heat between the radiator casing and the housing 18 which contains a thermostat 21 having operating connections through a system of levers 22, 22', 2 and link 23 with a damper-operating rod 24. As indicated in Fig. 5, the housing preferably on one wall is perforated to permit the air from the room to pass into the casing and circulate around the thermostat and then pass out through flue 17, as explained in my above-named patent. The dead air space in wall .20 and the space between the housing 18 and the radiator casing eflectively protects the thermostat from influence of icat from the radiator and enables the thermostat to respond to the condition of the'tcmperw .ture in the room. thereby eliminating the disturbing effect ofthe radiator. I

In order tllfliZ SGCtlODlIl casings built up of varying numbers of sections may each be provided with means for regulating the How of air, I provide a spccialarrangement of dampers which are assembled bv ilCldltlPIl of units to fit any length of sectional casin Each sectirn of the casing is provided with its individual damper and damper supports. A description (-f one will suflice for all. Beferrinq to Figs. 3. 6 and 7, 25 is a damper provided with trunnions 26 whichare supported in hearings 27 formed on" plates 28.

Each plate 28 wh ch is of the general outline with their dampers are fastened to the top walls by screws passing through the plates and entering threaded openings in the castings 29. The damper rod 24 is inserted through the adjustable damper connections 38 and the connections are clamped in proper position by screws 40, and the links 37 secured to the damper arms 35 and their connecting members 38. The damper rod is now connected to the position indicating hand through link 23. The rods 14 are slipped through the openings in tabs 13 which depend from the bottom closures 12 and held in place by nuts in the ends of the rods. The sections of the hood are coupled together as explained and placed in position over the casing and may merely rest thereon or made fast thereto. In cases where the radiator is connected to a riser, the mid wall oi the casing will he provided a rib an opening to receive such connection. Mr: slight irregularity in the thickness of tin radiator sections can he compensated i in ass mbling the sections by adjusting! the nuts on the tie rods which will act on thc yielding joints hctwcen the sections. The pe uliar arrangement of the damper- -o=ppoi'tiii;5 plates and their dampers perunis ol' the necessary adjustment in tho 1th of the casing to meet any ordinary Yrliri znli due to irregularities of the radiator SiliiOllS and permit of expansion and contra tion in the ca ing walls. The parts m hccn iisscmhled and secured together 'nl itul over the radiator and the therat properly adjusted to maintain the di iiml temperature. air heated by the ra diator .--cctions ascends through the casing pa t thc dampers and is discharged through the perforated walls of the hood. Owing to thc dcad air spaces in the Walls of the casing. little heat from the radiator passes through the walls of the casing. The inner walls of the casing are therefore maintained at an levated temperature and thereby hecome more cllicient a sources of heat for raising the temperature of the air passing th ough the casing. This eiliciency is furthcr increased y the provision of the heat absorbing coating which is used on the inner walls of the casing. The heat radiated from the surfaces of the radiator sections. in the form of so-called dark heat rays. passes through the air without appreciable effect. hut on reaching the blackened surface causes a rise of temperature in the surface which amuse then oecomes'a source of heat for the air passing over its surface. In this manner, the casing becomes an effective means for heating the air and effects an economy in heating.

The thermostat in the present arrangement has been made entirely dependent on room temperature, because of the effective shielding of its casing from radiation from the radiator by the mterposition of a wall containing a dead air space and the location of this wall so as to form an air circulating space between the two casings.

What is claimed is:-

1. In combination, a damper-controlled radiator casing having a chambered end wall, a housing provided with a damper operating thermostat and having a line delivering through said ca iutz. the side wall of the housing opposite said end wall being chambered and 'fori'uing with the latter an air circulating space for insulating the. housing from the casing.

2. In combination with a radiator caving provided with dampers and a. thermoscnst tive device for operating said dampers, a casing for said tl'ierl'i'iostat having a flue connection with said casing, and a chambered wall facing a wall of the casing and. separated therefrom by an air space to prevent interchange of heat between the radiator casing and the thermostat.

3. A radiator casing com 'irisinfz a plurality of sections vicldimilv secured together. a closure therefor coin isint: a p r.rulil. of dampers. and damper snppor i "1;; 'ilates. the edges of said dampe's and plates having overlapping edges to permit, longitudinal adjustment of the casing wi hout breaking: joints, and thermostatic means for operat-- ing said dampers.

(t. In combination with a radiator casing: provided with dampers and a ilierinosensitive device for o 'ierating said dampers, a casing for said thermostat having a chant bcred wall facing the wall of said casing and separated therefrom by an air space thereby preventing. heat interchange between said casing and the thermostat.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oi two subscl'il ing witnesses.

WESTON M. FULTON.

Witnesses H. T. PATToN, .l. V. (lnasnrn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C."

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